Media outlets access enhanced multi-platform content at no charge, with alerts when we have new content on issues or from regions you may select. Once we receive the filled out form below, you'll receive a message with the passcode/s. Welcome!

*These fields are required

*Media Outlet name

*Media Outlet City/State

Contact name

Contact phone

*Email address or fax #

*Media Outlet type

Additional (beyond the state you are located in) content that you would like to receive

Newscasts

PNS Daily Newscast - January 21, 2019

Could the nation’s airports be the next pressure points in the government shutdown? Also on our Monday rundown: Calls go out to improve food safety; and a new report renews calls for solutions to Detroit’s water woes.

Tips on Reducing Waste This Holiday Season

Christmas trees and much of the packaging for gifts are recyclable. (thelesleyshow/morguefile)

December 29, 2016

PHOENIX — Americans buy 25 - 30 million Christmas trees every year, and now it’s time for people to think about recycling them. But experts say Christmas trees aren't the only thing that can be recycled once the holidays are over.

Many cities have drop-off programs to turn Christmas trees into mulch, which then saves water in the garden and improves the soil. Yvette Roeder, public information officer with the Phoenix Public Works Department, reminds folks to be sure to strip everything off the tree before recycling it.

"They need to make sure that the trees are completely free of Christmas decorations, Christmas hooks, even the wooden stakes that usually come with the Christmas tree,” Roeder said. "They need to be free of that before they can actually drop off their Christmas trees or wreaths to be recycled."

Most of the packaging from presents can be recycled as well. Cardboard boxes must be broken down into manageable pieces. Hard plastic inserts from boxes can usually be recycled, but filmy plastic, Styrofoam, zip-closing bags and ribbons generally cannot.

Roeder said plain or shiny wrapping paper can be recycled, but paper that is foiled or has velvety flocking cannot.

"The number one rule that you need to know is, if you can tear it with your own hands, that means it can be recycled."

You can even compost your food waste - or have someone else do it. Several new companies have sprouted up in Arizona that charge a small fee to pick up food scraps, compost them and even spread some of them over community gardens.